Astronomy society member Kerry Smith demonstrates radio astronomy to a visitor at last year's astronomy day. (Submitted)
Maybe you're one of those people who really wanted a telescope, got it, then couldn't figure out how to use it, so it's sitting in a corner collecting dust.

Maybe you're a photography buff wanting to make images of the sun without burning your eyeballs and damaging your brain.

Or maybe you just wish you could tell your curious kids where to look to find common constellations such as the Big Dipper or Orion's Belt.

Whatever your astronomical interest level -- from "I never go outdoors or look up at night" to "I've got a mental map of the sky in my mind" -- chances are you'll find something of interest during the York County Astronomical Society's annual astronomy day program Saturday at John C. Rudy County Park.

From noon to 5 p.m., visitors can learn how to safely observe the sun through different types of telescopes, how to photograph it and how to use their own telescopes.

"A lot of times, that's easier to do in the daytime," said Todd Ullery of Shrewsbury Township, the society's planetarium director.

A member who is a radio astronomer will bring a radio telescope -- "It looks like a DirecTV dish," Ullery said -- aim it at different celestial bodies, and let visitors listen to the strength of signals each emits.

This year's event features an expanded menu of children's activities. Kids can make their own lunar craters by dropping different items in a mud-like substance or play a computer game where they land on the moon.

Arts-and-crafts materials will be available for the kids to paint their own nebula, make their own constellations or build their own star clocks and planisphere star charts with pins and papers that they rotate to find out what is visible in the sky at different times of the year.

"We do this as a way to bring astronomy to the public," Ullery said. "You need other people to help you find the answers. Sometimes, it's really hard to figure things out on your own."

If skies are clear, visitors may return to the park at 8 p.m. for a three-hour observation session.

-- JENNIFER VOGELSONG, FLIPSIDE STAFF

If you go


WHAT: Astronomy Day
activities

 
WHEN: Noon to 5 p.m.
Saturday

 
WHERE: The observatory at John C. Rudy County Park, 400 Mundis Race Road, East Manchester Township

 
COST: Free

 
DETAILS: Call 578-9109 or visit www.ycas.org.

Catch a planetarium show

Take a virtual tour of the solar system by watching "The Planets Tour of the Solar System" narrated by Kate Mulgrew of "Star Trek Voyager" fame at 7:40 p.m. Friday in the planetarium at the York Learning Center, 300 E. Sixth Ave., York.

 
At 7 and 8:20 p.m., the planetarium will show "StarWatch," which teaches viewers how to locate visible planets and constellations in the night sky, and recounts sky lore. Those who attend will learn things such as why stars have different colors and will get a star map to take home.

 
Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for children and senior citizens. Admission to any second show is $1. For details, call 578-9109 or visit www.ycas.org.